“It becomes increasingly difficult to enhance one’s strength as one progresses further,” Luo Feng mused. “Increasing my speed from 23.8 meters per second to 25 meters per second might take an entire year. And raising my punch power from 809 kilograms to 900 kilograms would likely take even longer. It seems I won’t be able to earn the title of ‘Martial Artist’ until after I enter university.”
“If only… I could faint again. My physical condition might then meet the requirements of a martial artist.”
Of course, the ‘fainting’ he desired wasn’t the kind caused by being beaten unconscious. It referred to the kind caused by a headache so intense it led to unconsciousness.
Luo Feng had suffered from chronic headaches. Occasionally, he experienced brief spells of pain each day, but he could usually endure them. However, when the pain reached its peak, it would cause him to faint.
Throughout his life, Luo Feng had fainted twice.
The first time was when he was eight years old. His younger brother had been hit by a car and had his leg broken. Overcome with grief, Luo Feng suddenly felt an excruciating headache, his heartbeat accelerated alarmingly, and his blood circulation sped up to an astonishing rate. He felt as though his heart would leap out of his chest, and eventually, he collapsed into unconsciousness.
The second time was when he was twelve. His mother had fallen seriously ill and was hospitalized. Fearing the loss of his mother, Luo Feng panicked, his headache became unbearable, and his heart raced again, ultimately causing him to faint once more.
After both incidents, his family had taken him to the hospital for checkups, but no abnormalities were found. After all, even today, the human brain remains a difficult frontier for medical science.
“However, both times I fainted, my physical condition improved significantly,” Luo Feng recalled with anticipation. “At eight and twelve years old, after each fainting episode, my strength, speed, and neural reactions noticeably increased. That’s why I was able to pass the Intermediate Student Exam and earn the ‘Intermediate Student’ title immediately upon entering the martial arts academy at sixteen. Because of my strong foundation, I earned the ‘Advanced Student’ title at seventeen.”
“If I could faint again, my strength would definitely surge once more!”
Fainting, in fact, was a form of self-preservation by the body and not entirely a bad thing.
Luo Feng had suffered from headaches since childhood. However, after his first fainting episode at eight years old, he noticed that his headaches had lessened. After the second episode at twelve, his headaches had diminished even further.
“If I could faint again, following this pattern, my headaches should subside once more… Fainting one or two more times might even completely cure my headaches,” Luo Feng thought longingly. After all, each fainting episode not only alleviated his headaches but also brought a significant improvement in his physical condition.
Unfortunately…
Fainting wasn’t something one could simply will to happen. It had only occurred twice in his entire life.
“When the headache reaches its peak, the heartbeat also accelerates to its maximum.”
Luo Feng glanced at the watch on his wrist, a device equipped with a pulse-monitoring function.
“Yet even during intense running, my heart rate doesn’t exceed 120 beats per minute,” Luo Feng observed. “If only I could reach a heart rate of over 200 beats per minute. That would be ideal.” The signs preceding a fainting episode were severe headaches and an extremely rapid heartbeat.
Unfortunately—
No matter how strenuously he exercised, his heart rate never reached the level that would trigger a headache-induced fainting episode.
…
Inside the martial arts hall, Yang Wu, whose face bore a scar, stood before a punching power testing machine. Without fully preparing himself, he casually launched a series of rapid punches with both hands. *Boom! Boom! Boom!* A string of low, heavy thuds echoed as the machine’s screen displayed a sequence of numbers—”956kg, 912kg, 936kg, 981kg…”
Yang Wu continued punching for dozens of strikes before finally stopping.
Watching from the side, Luo Feng couldn’t help but feel envious. His own maximum punch power was only 809 kilograms. If he were to deliver rapid punches like Yang Wu, each strike exceeding 700 kilograms would be considered quite good.
“Yang Ge, if only I could punch with the same effortless strength as you do,” Luo Feng remarked with a smile.
“You little rascal,” Yang Wu approached and playfully patted Luo Feng’s shoulder. “You’re only 19, barely 18 years old. When I was your age, I was still just an intermediate student at the academy. At your rate of progress… don’t worry, within two years you’ll definitely meet the physical requirements of a martial artist. Heh… a martial artist at twenty… truly enviable.”
Luo Feng chuckled.
The martial arts academy accepted students between the ages of 16 and 30 because this was the period of most rapid growth. The earlier one could become a martial artist, the greater their potential for future strength. Last year, at seventeen, Luo Feng had already become an advanced student at the academy—an achievement that many envied.
“Oh, by the way, Crazy, are you preparing for the college entrance exam? What are your plans after that?” Yang Wu asked with a grin.
“I’m planning to apply to a military academy,” Luo Feng replied with a slight smile. “Graduates from regular military academies usually become junior officers in the regular army. As for me, I expect to join some elite military units after graduation without much difficulty.”
“Ah.”
Hearing this, Yang Wu smirked. “Joining a military academy has its advantages, but… I feel it would restrict your personal freedom. Once you graduate and enter the elite forces, you’ll naturally have to follow military discipline. As for me, I couldn’t handle that. I’d rather be a free martial artist.”
“Being a free martial artist does have its appeal,” Luo Feng shook his head. “But I don’t want my parents to worry. Entering a military academy and later joining the military would at least ensure a much higher level of safety compared to being a free martial artist.”
Martial artists generally had four career paths to choose from.
The first was to join the military. The advantage was high safety, as the state would never easily risk the lives of martial artists. Additionally, the state would provide many benefits to the families of martial artists, ensuring they had no worries.
The second was to join a martial arts academy. The management of martial arts academies was relatively relaxed, making them loosely organized groups. Moreover, the Limit Martial Arts Academy was founded by ‘Hong,’ the world’s strongest martial artist. Becoming a ‘martial artist’ of the Limit Martial Arts Academy came with many benefits, and the relaxed management offered more freedom.
The third path was to join a corporate conglomerate, a family, or a major faction, essentially serving as a hired enforcer.
The fourth path was to join a mercenary force. This was the most dangerous but also the most free.
“Joining the military is safe, no doubt,” Yang Wu shook his head. “But I don’t want to live a life without much freedom. This year, I plan to take the ‘Quasi-Martial Artist Exam’ again, and I believe I can pass. Once I pass, I will immediately take the ‘Martial Artist Practical Exam’ and strive to become a martial artist this year.”
Luo Feng’s eyes lit up. “Yang Ge, are you confident about passing the Quasi-Martial Artist Exam now?”
“Haha,” Yang Wu grinned. “Among the three physical trials, I’ve already met the benchmarks for punch strength and neural reflexes. My only shortcoming was speed, but now I can barely hit 25 meters per second on a good run. With a little more effort these next few days, I should be able to clear the test.”
“Congratulations, Yang Ge,” Luo Feng felt genuinely happy for Yang Wu, who had been striving to become a martial artist for many years. “Yang Ge, once you become a martial artist, what are your plans?”
“Of course, I’ll join the Limit Martial Arts Academy,” Yang Wu smiled. “The Limit Martial Arts Academy has a very relaxed system. With branches all over the world, it has many senior martial artists who can provide guidance for personal development. Plus, I can rest whenever I want or go out to hunt monsters whenever I feel like it. That’s true freedom.”
Luo Feng nodded in agreement.
“Crazy,” Yang Wu looked at Luo Feng. “You’re a wild one at heart. I’m not mistaken about you. I think you’re well-suited to become a free martial artist. Joining a martial arts academy gives you so much freedom. And the Limit Martial Arts Academy will offer us a lot of support.”
“I…” Luo Feng hesitated slightly.
Seeing this, Yang Wu shook his head with a smile. “Crazy, free martial artists often live and die by the sword, honing their skills in the crucible of life and death. It’s dangerous, yes. But precisely because they often fight on the edge of life and death, their strength progresses the fastest! Look around—most of the strongest martial artists are free martial artists.”
…
The night was lit by streetlights.
After leaving the Limit Martial Arts Academy, Luo Feng walked slowly along the sidewalk, alone. Yang Wu’s words from earlier had left a deep impression on him.
“There are actually two paths suitable for me,” Luo Feng thought silently. “One is to enter a military academy, graduate smoothly, and then join an elite military unit. The second is to become a martial artist, join the Limit Martial Arts Academy, and become a martial artist under their banner, free to hunt monsters.”
“The first path, entering a military academy, offers high safety and good family benefits. Even if I die in battle, the state will take care of my family.”
“The second path, becoming a free martial artist, involves frequent life-and-death struggles, leading to rapid strength growth. Hunting monsters also brings in large sums of money quickly. This path… dangerous, fast strength growth, fast money-making, and freedom. The only drawback is the danger.” Luo Feng had often considered this issue throughout his senior year of high school.
“My parents have only two sons. My younger brother is already disabled. If I become a free martial artist and die in battle, what will become of my parents in their later years?”
Someone needed to take care of his younger brother.
His parents were also getting older. If he died, what would become of them?
“I should enter a military academy.”
“In the future, joining an elite military unit, I can study ‘Military Martial Arts’ and combine it with the ‘Limit Martial Arts’ I’ve learned at the academy, further enhancing my strength. In the military, I can still hone my skills! And even if I die in battle as a martial artist, the state will provide a monthly pension to my parents.” Considering his parents’ well-being, Luo Feng decided to take the college entrance exam and apply to a military academy.
However…
Entering a military academy wasn’t something he could achieve simply by wanting to. He needed high academic scores. Everything depended on the college entrance exam in June.
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